Restore teacher trainees’ allowances- students

Ghanaian students studying in Turkey have jumped to the defense of teacher and nursing trainees who are mounting pressure on government to restore their allowances.

They are convinced that restoration of the student allowances especially that of teacher trainees have positive effect on education.

Government in 2013 scrapped the teacher trainee allowances after elevating teacher trainee colleges to Colleges of Education.

The Minister for Education, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang defended government’s action with the explanation that government could not continue with the allowances policy because of Colleges of Education status.

This decision has since created uproar between government and leadership of teacher trainee associations.

Several petitions by leadership of teacher trainees presented to President John Dramani Mahama proved futile.

But Ghanaian students studying in Turkey have asked government to reconsider its decision.

Acting President of the Ghanaian Students Association in Turkey, Hussein Alhassan in a Citi News interview said government’s decision was ill-informed.

He observed with deep concern that Ghana’s teachers’ deficit was very high for which reason efforts must be made to overturn the trend.

He said, “Without educated citizens there is no way that a country can talk of development and looking at education one can only have access to it if he has the resources.”

Hussein Alhassan admonished government to allocate enough resources for the education sector by making it possible for every child of school going age to have access to quality education.

Citi News gathered that African students studying in Turkey on Turkish government and philanthropists’ scholarship receive close to $600 Dollars as monthly allowance.

Those reading masters receive $400 Dollars whilst PHD students receive $550 Dollars.

They have free accommodation, feeding grant and do not pay for utility bills.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana